How I found freedom on an e-bike

I love my e-bike because it gives me freedom. On my lovely Kuo A2B Plus I can freewheel down hills with the wind in my face, and then fly effortlessly back up them feeling just a little bit smug.

I’ve got multiple sclerosis and so getting around can sometimes be a challenge; my legs can feel heavy and painful, and my walking gets slow and wobbly.

Exercise is important to keep healthy and happy with MS, and to manage the ‘need-a-nap-now’ fatigue which is a common symptom.

I don’t have to use the car, or wait for a bus, or walk when I don’t feel up to it

Living in North London, all my routes home involve either a short, very steep hill, or a very long, slow hill: my e-bike has made this final part of a trip to the shops much less daunting. Actually, it’s made it fun. I can go faster the closer I get!

I don’t have to use the car, or wait for a bus, or walk when I don’t feel up to it.

I’m using it to cycle to the swimming pool and gym four days a week, rather than driving (Just need to jog up and down the garden for a mini-triathlon).

My new bike lessens the fear of my body’s battery running out of juice on the way home

MS is unpredictable, with symptoms changing daily. On good days, I can test myself with the e-bike by keeping the power-level low; let’s try this hill on two instead of three today, or some of it at least.

On other days, I can give myself a break and knock it up to five; no pressure required, but still some valuable exercise.

My new bike lessens the fear of my body’s battery running out of juice on the way home – as long as I’ve remembered to charge the bike’s battery .

And I can be the speedy kid I never was, regardless of MS, and again, that’s fun.

The extra boost lets me pull away from junctions quickly, safely and with confidence, and the weight adds stability stability. A slow-and-steady approach is needed when moving the bike, and removing the battery for charging.

And e-bikes have meant my lovely partner Ben and I can cycle together again: I struggled on my traditional bike and he’d be stuck perpetually in granny gear as I tried to catch up. It made me feel very grumpy.

One go on my bike infected him with the e-bike bug and now he’s commuting several days a week on a very smart Moustache.